The cost of the satellite is avalued at approximately USD$28.6 million for Brazil and China each.

China's National Space Administration and the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) celebrated the 30-year anniversary of their joint space program, the Sino-Brazilian Terrestrial Resource Program, at the Chinese embassy in Brasilia Wednesday. The two parties announced their sixth project, the Cbers-4A remote sensorial satellite, which will monitor deforestation in the Amazon region and elsewhere in the South American country starting next year.

The latest project of the 30-year space cooperation program is an "exemplary model for South-South cooperation," said the Chinese ambassador to Brazil, Li Jinzhang. He stressed that "the joint development in technological innovation fosters mutual benefits" and reinforces the strategic global partnership between China and Brazil.

Meanwhile, the AEB president, Jose Raimundo Braga Coelho, highlighted the pioneering initiative in high technology between the two countries.

"All of our efforts to expand knowledge in strategic areas such as space is worthwhile. We needed to develop observational satellites of Earth and we had a wonderful opportunity to be invited by the Chinese to participate in this collective effort."

Braga Coelho affirmed that the two countries "chose a mutual objective" and moved forward in the development of the joint space program.

The Cbers-4A will furnish continuous aerial images in order to monitor the environment, deforestation, the effects of natural disasters, expansion of agriculture and cities and a host of other data.

The cost of the satellite is valued at approximately US$28.6 million for each country.

No charge will be imposed on the distribution of the satellite imagery, which will be used by academics and students.